May 2018
May 11, 2018
The Rite of Exorcism
Released in 1974, The Rite of Exorcism was an album performed by three Catholic priests calling themselves the Contemporary Mission. It included a rock-and-roll version of "Dies Irae (Day of Wrath)." The trio described the album as an attempt to communicate with young people in their own media. So, it was part of the ongoing effort to help Catholicism shed its stuffy image.Except, in this case there's some debate over whether the three really were bonafide Catholic priests. By 1980 they were under investigation for using tax-exempt religious status to run a sketchy mail-order business that sold snake-oil of various kinds such as "a bath oil described as weight-reducing... and a 'Living Cross' that, when coupled with a special prayer, was guaranteed to change your life 'in just five days.'"
More info: WFMU (which has the whole album available as a free download), discogs.com, law.justia.com.
Posted By: Alex - Fri May 11, 2018 -
Comments (1)
Category: Music, Religion, 1970s
Amii Stewart’s “Knock On Wood”
Holy cats! What did I just watch?
Her Wikipedia page.
Posted By: Paul - Fri May 11, 2018 -
Comments (4)
Category: Music, Sex Symbols, Psychedelic, 1970s
May 10, 2018
Ball Buster
"The name of the game is ball buster. It's a family game, fun for children... and for adults it's exciting. You make strategic offensive and defensive moves. Then try to bust your opponent's balls."Maybe the name of the game was a little too edgy for its own good. The game debuted in 1975, and as far as I can tell was discontinued after a year.
But the TV ad for the game is a classic, especially the final scene where the husband tells his wife, "You're a ball buster."
New York Daily News - Oct 25, 1975
image source: Mego Museum
Posted By: Alex - Thu May 10, 2018 -
Comments (4)
Category: Games, 1970s
Kitchen Hats
Posted By: Paul - Thu May 10, 2018 -
Comments (1)
Category: Headgear, 1950s
May 9, 2018
Swallowed a turtle
May 1968: two-year-old Brad Haines somehow managed to swallow a turtle, apparently because it belonged to his sister, whom he was mad at. But then the turtle remained alive in his stomach for quite a while, which worried doctors. Thankfully it did eventually die, and Brad then managed to get rid of it the natural way. So no surgery was required.
Opelousas Daily World - May 30, 1968
Stevens Point Journal - June 4, 1968
Posted By: Alex - Wed May 09, 2018 -
Comments (4)
Category: Animals, Food, 1960s
Raggedy Ann and Andy: A Musical Adventure
Makes one savor the genius of TOY STORY and sequels even more.
Posted By: Paul - Wed May 09, 2018 -
Comments (3)
Category: Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art, Movies, Music, Toys, 1970s
May 8, 2018
Bed of Nails
Back in 1975, eleven-year-old Mark Harman of England made headlines by becoming a practitioner of the art of lying on a bed of nails. He was reported to have been taught by an "expert" and practiced by lying on the bed for half an hour each day.I guess it's definitely not a typical hobby for a boy his age. I can't find any follow-up stories about him, so don't know if he continued the hobby later in life.
Corsicana Daily Sun - Feb 13, 1975
Posted By: Alex - Tue May 08, 2018 -
Comments (2)
Category: Hobbies and DIY, 1970s
De-Bunk-Her
This seems to have been a game at the famous 1939 World's Fair. I find this partial description: "Termed 'De-Bunk-Her,' it consists of two beds, on each of which a lovely lady lies, with a target between. For a quarter the participant gets ten throws at the target..."
Posted By: Paul - Tue May 08, 2018 -
Comments (4)
Category: Fairs, Amusement Parks, and Resorts, Games, 1930s
May 7, 2018
Stimorol, chewing gum for the rich
Stimorol was a Danish brand of chewing gum. When its maker brought it to the U.S. in 1982, they decided to go for snob appeal and marketed it as the "chewing gum for the rich." Even though, as far as I know, in Denmark it was just a chewing gum for regular folks.I agree with the columnist below. Chewing gum just doesn't work as a status symbol.
New Yorker - May 10, 1982
Clarion Ledger - Sep 29, 1982
Posted By: Alex - Mon May 07, 2018 -
Comments (3)
Category: Food, 1980s
Follies of the Madmen #364
Woman with memory issues ensures she will be regarded as insane.
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Mon May 07, 2018 -
Comments (2)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Tobacco and Smoking, 1950s
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| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction books such as Elephants on Acid. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Chuck Shepherd Chuck is the purveyor of News of the Weird, the syndicated column which for decades has set the gold-standard for reporting on oddities and the bizarre. Our banner was drawn by the legendary underground cartoonist Rick Altergott. Contact Us |
